Magnetic holder



Q y 1 4 D. H. MUNRIOIETAL 3,142,007

MAGNETIC HOLDER Filed Dec. 4, 1961 INVENTORS DONALD H. MUNRO WILL/AM MUNRO Attorney United States Patent 3,142,007 MAGNETIC HOLDER Donald H. Munro and William H. Munro, both of 2422 Fairview Ave., Burlington, Ontario, Canada Filed Dec. 4, 1961, Ser. No. 156,602 2 Claims. (Cl. 317159) This invention relates to a device for providing for the holding and quick release of a magnetic member or a member of magnetically susceptible material. More particularly, the invention has for a specific application the holding and quick release of a game piece which is either magnetic itself or is magnetically susceptible to facilitate centering off of the piece in play.

The object of the invention is to provide a device for the aforesaid purpose of extremely simple and inexpensive construction which will positively retain the piece until its release is desired and will instantaneously release the magnetic piece under finger tip actuation.

Another important object is to provide a device as aforesaid which can be easily and quickly assembled and further which can be easily and quickly mounted in position with the act of mounting same securing the parts thereof in assembled relationship.

The principal feature of the invention resides in utilizing a controller or keeper to hold a game piece to a non-magnetic surface interposed between such piece and keeper, one of the controller or keeper and game piece being or incorporating a permanent magnet and the other being of magnetically susceptible material, the keeper being shiftable relative to such surface to reduce the magnetic linkage with the game piece below that required for game piece retention on such surface.

Another important feature resides in providing means for effecting relative movement between such controller or keeper and such non-magnetic surface under finger pressure. In this connection it is a feature of the invention to provide a fulcrum associated with the non-magnetic surface and to provide the controller or keeper with a lever portion adapted to fulcrum thereon whereby shifting of the keeper is effected through the lever portion.

According to the preferred form of the invention the non-magnetic surface comprises the bottom wall of a cup member of non-magnetic material and the controller or keeper member is loosely housed in such cup member and is provided with a lever element projecting over the rim of the cup member whereby the controller or keeper can be rocked on the cup rim.

Another important feature resides in forming the controller or keeper member to have a configuration corresponding to the cup member whereby the former is substantially co-extensive with the bottom wall of the latter.

Another important feature resides in providing the cup member with means for supporting same from a support surface, and utilizing the attachment of the cup member to such support surface to lock the controller or keeper member in the cup member for shiftable movement relative thereto.

These and other objects and features will become apparent from the following detailed description in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating a hockey game with which the magnetic piece holding device of the present invention is useful;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view on an enlarged scale of the magnetic hold and release device of the present invention and illustrating in association therewith a typical magnetic game piece and a support surface;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional detail of the assembled device in supported position illustrating the parts in game piece retaining position; and

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 but illus- 3,142,037 Patented July 21, 1964 trating the actuation of the keeper member to release the game piece;

FIGURE 5 is a mid-vertical sectional view of an alter native form of the invention wherein the controller incorporates a magnet and the game piece is magnetically susceptible.

Referring first to FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, the game piece holding and releasing device according to the preferred form of the invention, comprises a cup 1 of non-magnetic material for instance aluminum or plastic within which is received a second cup member 2 0f magnetically susceptible material such as soft iron, steel or the like which is adapted to form a controller or keeper for a game piece 3 which in the embodiment of the invention illustrated may have a permanent magnet 4 embedded therein or which itself may be a permanent magnet. t

The cup 1 is provided with tangs 5 which are adapted to be introduced through slots 6 in a support arm 7. After introduction through the slots 6 the end portion of each tang 5 is bent over to lie in a plane substantially parallel to the support arm 7, a space being left between the top of the cup 1 and the undersurface of the support member 7.

As shown in FIGURE 3, when the cup 1 and the keeper 2 are assembled, the keeper nests within the cup 1 and is substantially co-extensive with the bottom 8 thereof. The interlocking of the tangs 5 with the support 7 not only serves to mount the device in position but also serves to maintain the cup 1 and keeper 2 in assembled relation.

The keeper 2 is shown as provided with a pair of rightangularly bent lever arms 9 which are adapted to fulcrum at the bend thereof on the rim 11 of the nonmagnetic cup 1.

Thus by pressing down or lifting up on either one of the arms 9 the keeper 2 will be caused to rock on the rim 11 which forms a fulcrum for the respective or opposite lever arm as the case may be to rock the keeper from the position of FIGURE 3 where it seats on the bottom 8 of the cup 1 to the position of FIGURE 4 where it is lifted off the cup bottom 8.

The relationship is such that with the keeper in the position of FIGURE 3 the gap between the magnetic gamepiece 3 and the magnetically susceptible keeper 2 is determined by the thickness of the bottom wall 8 of the cup 1, the bottom wall 8 also forming a bearing surface against which the game piece bears. This thickness is so selected that the magnetic linkage between the game piece 3, or rather between the permanent magnet 4 embedded therein, and the keeper will provide sufficient attractive force to overcome the pull of gravity on the game piece. The game piece will thus be held magnetically by the keeper against the bearing surface formed by the cup bottom 8 with the keeper in the position of FIGURE 3.

When, however, the keeper 2 is rocked by depressing either one of the arms 9 the keeper will be shifted upwardly relative to the cup bottom 8 increasing the spacing between the magnetic game piece or magnet 4 and the keeper to thereby reduce the magnetic linkage therebetween to a point where it will be insufficient to retain the game piece against the force of gravity and the game piece will drop.

In the particular illustration of the invention, the game piece 3 is in the form of a puck which is adapted to be operated along a playing surface 12 within a frame 13 in the hockey game illustrated in FIGURE 1. The puck is manipulated by means of players 14 which operate in slots 15 with the players preferably being controlled for movement longitudinally of the slots and for rotational movement by means of control rods 16.

In the playing of such a hockey game, it is desirable to centre off or face off at certain times within the circle designated at 17 at the centre and at other times with the circles designated at 18 at the ends of the playing surface 12. Accordingly, it is convenient to provide one of the magnetic hold and release devices according to the present invention associated with the centre circle 17 and with at least one of the end circles 18.

In connection with the device mounted over the centre circle 17 this is conveniently carried on a cross-frame 19 supported from the frame 13 and having a central rectangular frame 20 having an indicator 21 by means of which the score may be maintained.

At the ends the support arms 7 are each shown as right-angularly bent and mounted on a bracket 22'. In each case the arrangement is such that the cup member 1 will overlie the centre 23 of one of the circles 17 and 18.

It will be understood that in the utilization of the present invention in association with such a hockey game the magnetic piece in the form of the puck 3 will be mounted on the respective device overlying either the centre circle 17 or one of the end circles 18 and the players will ready themselves to manipulate their players 14. Then one of the players or a third party can drop the puck for the faceoff simply by depressing or pulling up on one of the arms 9 of the keeper associated with the hold device being used and the puck will drop into play.

With reference to FIGURE 5, there is illustrated an alternative embodiment of the invention wherein the controller 2' carries a magnet 24 held thereto for instance by retaining lugs 25. In this case the controller 2' will be of some material which is non-magnetic for instance aluminum or plastic and the game piece 3 will itself be of a magnetically susceptible material or may be provided with an insert 26 of magnetically susceptible material.

In this embodiment of the invention the operation is exactly as described in connection with FIGURES 1 to 4. The controller 2 is again housed within a nonmagnetic cup 1 and is provided with arms 9 by means of which the controller is adapted to be rocked utilizing the rim of the cup 1 as a fulcrum.

In this case again with the controller 2 seated on the bottom of the cup 1 the magnetic linkage between the magnet 24 carried thereby and the game piece 3 or rather the magnetically susceptible insert 26 is suflicient to retain the game piece against the bottom of the cup so that it will not drop under gravity. To release the game piece the controller 2 may be rocked by either depressing or pulling up on one of the arms 9' increasing the spacing between the magnet 24 and the magnetically susceptible insert 26 to a point where the magnet linkage is insuflicient to overcome the pull of gravity on the game piece, causing the latter to drop.

While in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 4 the game piece carries the magnet and the controller is of magnetically susceptible material and in the embodiment of FIGURE the controller carries the magnet and the game piece carries the magnetically susceptible material, it will be understood that both the game piece and the controller may be or may carry permanent magnets if desired.

It will be understood that the hockey game per so with which the present invention is illustrated as shown in FIGURE 1, forms no part of this invention so that no details of the player operating mechanism associated with the hockey game are illustrated herein.

It will also be understood that the invention will have application not only to other games, but wherever it is desired that a member be magnetically held against gravity ready for instant release.

Again it will be understood that variations in the details of construction may obviously be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. A device for holding and releasing a game piece of magnetic material above a game playing surface comprising a support member positioned above said surface, a hollow non-magnetic member open at the top, means for suspending said hollow member from said support member to provide a clearance between the rim of said hollow member and the underside of said support, a controller member of magnetic material dimensioned to be positioned within said hollow member and having arms bearing on the rim of said hollow member to provide support, means magnetically linking said controller member with said game piece, whereby the latter is held to the underside of said hollow member, said magnetic linkage being of an intensity whereby pressure on one of said arms to alter the upward position of said controller member in said hollow member is sufficient to release said game piece onto said game playing surface.

2. A device for holding and releasing a permanently magnetized game piece above a game playing surface comprising a support member positioned above said surface, a hollow non-magnetic member open at the top, means for suspending said hollow member from said support member to provide a clearance between the rim of said hollow member and the underside of said support, a controller member of magnetic material dimensioned to be positioned within said hollow member and having arms bearing on the rim of said hollow member to provide support, said controller member magnetically linking with said game piece whereby the latter is held to the underside of said hollow member, said magnetic linkage being of an intensity whereby pressure on one of said arms to alter the upward position of said controller member in said hollow member is suflicient to release said game piece onto said game playing surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,014,751 Smith Dec. 26, 1961 3,041,697 Budreck July 3, 1962 3,063,118 Salter et al. Nov. 13, 1962 

1. A DEVICE FOR HOLDING AND RELEASING A GAME PIECE OF MAGNETIC MATERIAL ABOVE A GAME PLAYING SURFACE COMPRISING A SUPPORT MEMBER POSITIONED ABOVE SAID SURFACE, A HOLLOW NON-MAGNETIC MEMBER OPEN AT THE TOP, MEANS FOR SUSPENDING SAID HOLLOW MEMBER FROM SAID SUPPORT MEMBER TO PROVIDE A CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE RIM OF SAID HOLLOW MEMBER AND THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID SUPPORT, A CONTROLLER MEMBER OF MAGNETIC MATERIAL DIMENSIONED TO BE POSITIONED WITHIN SAID HOLLOW MEMBER AND HAVING ARMS BEARING ON THE RIM OF SAID HOLLOW MEMBER TO PROVIDE SUPPORT, MEANS MAGNETICALLY LINKING SAID CONTROLLER MEMBER WITH SAID GAME PIECE, WHEREBY THE LATTER IS HELD TO THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID HOLLOW MEMBER, SAID MAGNETIC LINKAGE BEING OF AN INTENSITY WHEREBY PRESSURE ON ONE OF SAID ARMS TO ALTER THE UPWARD POSITION OF SAID CONTROLLER MEMBER IN SAID HOLLOW MEMBER IS SUFFICIENT TO RELEASE SAID GAME PIECE ONTO SAID GAME PLAYING SURFACE. 